SUSTAINABILITY SNAPSHOT
2013/14
CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Introduction
1. Environmental Commitment and Reporting
2. Energy Conservation
3. Integrated Water Management
4. Waste Management and Minimisation
5. Sustainable Purchasing and Product Use
6. Biodiversity
7. Environmental Education
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
THE CITY OF STONNINGTON SUSTAINABILITY SNAPSHOT PROVIDES
AN ANNUAL UPDATE OF PROGRESS BEING MADE BY COUNCIL AND THE
COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
The report focuses on the seven environmental priority areas identified in Council’s Sustainable
Environment Strategy 2013–17, which are: environmental commitment and reporting, energy
conservation, integrated water management, waste management and minimisation, sustainable
purchasing and product use, biodiversity and environmental education.
Departments from across Council contribute to the delivery of the Strategy in addressing these
key local issues. Significant progress has been made to date through both Council operational
improvements and broader community outreach activities.
Key actions achieved in 2013/14 include:
• The commencement of Council’s Sustainability Outreach Program, an initiative dedicated
to supporting residents and businesses to implement sustainable practices including home
composting, household energy efficiency, community gardening and e-waste (electronic)
recycling.
• The incorporation of Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) features in the
redevelopment
of the TH King Pavilion (now the Stonnington Environmental Education and Design (SEED)
Centre)
to reduce resource consumption and for use as a community educational space.
• Adoption by Council of an Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) local planning
policy requiring developers to include ESD considerations within their planning applications.
The policy is a proposed amendment to the Stonnington Planning Scheme and has been
endorsed by a Panel and Ministerial Advisory Committee. It is currently awaiting final
endorsement by the Minister for Planning.
• The incorporation of the Water Sensitive Urban Design Policy into the Stonnington Planning
Scheme to improve the City’s water quality by requiring building developers to implement
measures to treat stormwater onsite.
• Ongoing investment in energy efficiency infrastructure upgrades at Council’s high energy
use buildings and facilities (through Council’s Energy Efficiency Implementation Program).
This has reduced Council’s energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions
despite the provision of expanded services to meet community needs.
• The introduction of improved waste and recycling facilities in Council offices to improve staff
waste disposal practices and increase Council’s diversion of recycling and food waste from
landfill.
• The continued enhancement of local biodiversity and waterway health along the Yarra River
through the implementation of Stage Two of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project.
Works this year included vast indigenous revegetation and widening of the cycle path.
INTRODUCTION
WELCOME TO THE ANNUAL CITY OF STONNINGTON SUSTAINABILITY
SNAPSHOT!
Creating a healthy and sustainable City where natural and urban environments are enjoyed and
protected is a priority of Council.
Environment is one of four pillars in the Council Plan 2013–2017. The Environment Strategies
include:
• Support the shift towards the use of sustainable transport options.
• Increase the amount of open space and improve and balance the use of existing spaces
through greening of streets and other initiatives including green roofs and walls.
• Demonstrate waste minimisation and the efficient use of water and energy, through the
implementation of innovative and best practice initiatives.
• Initiate behavioural change within the community to adopt sustainable practices.
• Manage, strengthen and develop local biodiversity and protect and increase flora and fauna.
• Support Council and the community to respond to, mitigate and adapt to climate change.
• Improve Council’s own environmental performance and practices through a whole of Council
commitment.
The Sustainable Environment Strategy 2013–2017 embodies many of these strategies which flow
on to the Sustainability Snapshot.
Addressing the range of factors that impact on the environment will create not only a healthier
community for our present generations, but a sustainable environment for future generations to
also enjoy.
This report provides an annual update of progress being made by Council and the community in
influencing key environmental issues as identified in Council’s Sustainable Environment Strategy
2013–2017.
The Sustainable Environment Strategy is the driver of environmental planning, monitoring and
improvement for the City of Stonnington. It is a Council-wide strategy with the overall aim of
protecting and restoring the environment in Stonnington.
This report is based on the seven environmental themes of the Sustainable Environment Strategy,
including; environmental commitment and reporting, energy conservation, integrated water
management, waste management and minimisation, sustainable purchasing and product use,
biodiversity and environmental education.
Reporting on each theme includes; a summary of the key issues and opportunities, the goals and
objectives for improvement, key actions achieved over the previous 12 months, performance
highlights and the focus for activity over the next 12 months.
In particular, the report shows how the City of Stonnington, with support from local organisations,
groups, residents and schools, is working to improve environmental conditions in the City of
Stonnington for the long term benefit and enjoyment of all. This is demonstrated through
presentation of measurable data that can be monitored for changes over time.The initiatives
discussed in this report provide a direct benefit to the community, directly involve the community or
relate to Council’s organisational activities which provide an indirect community benefit – or a
combination of these. The general impact of the environmental themes discussed in this report can
be summarised as:
IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL THEMES TO THE COMMUNITY
1. Environmental Commitment and Reporting
Operational Improvement (indirect benefit)
2. Energy Conservation
Operational Improvement (indirect benefit)
3. Integrated Water Management
Operational Improvement (indirect benefit) and Direct Community Benefit
4. Waste Management and Minimisation
Operational Improvement (indirect benefit), Direct Community Involvement and Direct Community
Benefit
5. Sustainable Purchasing and Product Use
Operational Improvement (indirect benefit)
6. Biodiversity
Operational Improvement (indirect benefit)
7. Environmental Education
Direct Community Involvement and Direct Community Benefit
1.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT AND
REPORTING
Through Council’s wide-ranging functions in planning and delivering facilities and services, in
addition to its statutory planning responsibilities, there are significant opportunities to positively
influence environmental outcomes both within the organisation and throughout the wider
community.
Reporting is a key element of implementing Council’s commitment to environmental sustainability
and much effort has gone into consolidating data collection processes to enable easier reporting.
The Sustainability Snapshot is the primary method for reporting on the activities implemented by
Council in working towards achieving its commitment to improving environmental conditions in
Stonnington and influencing a more sustainable community.
COUNCIL’S GOALS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT AND REPORTING
• To create an organisation wide commitment to environmental sustainability which is evident
across the delivery of all Council services and functions.
• To support staff participation in environmental initiatives.
• To publicly report on the environmental performance of Council in achieving its environmental
sustainability goals each year and across the life of the Sustainable Environment Strategy
2013–2017.
OBJECTIVES
• To raise awareness of environmental issues and increase staff participation in initiatives aimed
at improving Council’s organisational systems, policies and processes to improve sustainability
and reduce its impact on the environment.
• To regularly collect and manage data for the purpose of monitoring Council’s environmental
performance.
ACTIONS ACHIEVED IN 2013/14
The following actions demonstrating Council’s environmental commitment were achieved
in 2013/14:
• Implemented office-based sustainability initiatives through the staff Green Team to
encourage staff to think and act sustainably and reduce resource use at Council facilities
(please see Performance section).
• Further improved Council’s environmental data management to ensure more specific
measurement and monitoring of Council’s environmental performance.
• Continued to inform residents and Council staff of key local environmental issues
through external publications including Council’s Sustainability Snapshot 2012/13 and
Annual Report, and other internal publications.
PERFORMANCE
Staff Green Team Achievements
Council’s staff Green Team has been operating for over 12 months to promote sustainable
behaviour among staff and reduce resource use at Council facilities.
A focus for the Green Team this year has been improving staff waste and recycling facilities and
practices to divert more waste from landfill (please see Waste Management and Minimisation
section).
The Green Team also developed a Green Stationery Guide for staff which provides
environmentally friendly alternatives for commonly used stationery items (please see Sustainable
Purchasing and Product Use section).
A focus for the Green Team in 2014/2015 will be a ‘Switch Off’ campaign to reduce energy use at
Council buildings and facilities. This will complement Council’s existing investment in energy
saving infrastructure at high energy use sites.
FOCUS FOR 2014/15
Over the coming year, the focus will be on the following actions for implementing and
reporting Council’s environmental commitment.
• To continue to promote sustainable office practices through the delivery of the staff
Green Team 2014/15 Action Plan (including a ‘Switch Off’ energy campaign and the trial
of an advanced kitchen composting system).
• To further incorporate environmental education into staff training and development
programs.
• To continue to report on Council’s environmental performance against the goals of the
Sustainable Environment Strategy 2013–17 both internally and to the community.
2. ENERGY CONSERVATION
The need to minimise social, economic and environmental impacts associated with climate
change is becoming a greater priority for governments around the world. This requires more
efficient use of energy resources, a greater use of renewable energy and a focus on reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
The City of Stonnington has long been committed to energy conservation, however, as the
population continues to grow, it is presented with the challenge of providing expanded facilities
and services whilst aiming to reduce its corporate greenhouse gas emissions.
The main areas of Council’s energy consumption are in buildings and facilities (due to heating,
cooling and lighting); lighting streets, and running a fleet of vehicles and other machinery.
Council will need to closely monitor its consumption of electricity, gas and fuel to ensure that
targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions are achieved, despite the provision of additional
buildings and equipment to service the demands of the increasing population.
Strategies for achieving this lie in making existing facilities and infrastructure more efficient and
achieving efficiencies in the development of new infrastructure. In particular, the focus has been
on buildings, facilities and street lighting.
COUNCIL’S GOALS FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION
• To reduce Council’s corporate energy consumption and corresponding greenhouse gas
emissions.
• Support the community to reduce energy consumption and corresponding greenhouse
gas emissions.
OBJECTIVES
• To reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 2005 level by 2015 and 30% by
2020.
• To maintain ongoing investment in the Energy Efficiency Implementation Program at a level of
$500,000 per annum.
• To investigate additional energy efficiency opportunities for Council buildings and facilities.
• To maintain ongoing investment in street lighting upgrades through the Energy Efficient
Streetlight Program at a minimum of $100,000 per annum, for complete upgrade by 2022–23.
• To develop a Council protocol to set energy performance standards for all new and upgraded
Council buildings and facilities.
• To continue to identify and, where possible, implement further opportunities to reduce fuel
consumption of Council’s fleet.
• The inclusion of a local ESD policy in the Planning Scheme.
• Provide opportunities for the community to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and
businesses.
• Increase local power generation for Council facilities through a range of clean energy
technologies.
ACTIONS ACHIEVED IN 2013/14
The following actions to reduce corporate and community energy consumption were
achieved in 2013/14:
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• Continued delivery of the Energy Efficiency Implementation Program to reduce Council’s
consumption of electricity, gas and fuel and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
This included the installation of two solar photovoltaic systems at Toorak Library
and Malvern Library.
• Developed a draft protocol to set energy performance standards for all new and
upgraded Council buildings and facilities.
• Incorporated Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) features in the redevelopment of
the TH King Pavilion (now the Stonnington Environmental Education and Design (SEED)
Centre) to conserve energy.
• Upgraded a further 140 streetlights to energy efficient T5 lighting as part of Council’s
Energy Efficiency Streetlight Program (bringing the total to 1,350 since 2011).
• Continued to purchase more fuel efficient/alternative fuel (e.g. LPG) light vehicles in
Council’s vehicle fleet.
• Implemented an Ecodriver Program to train Council’s fleet drivers to modify their driving
behaviour to improve fuel efficiency and reduce fuel expenditure and associated
greenhouse gas emissions.
• Supported Council staff to utilise sustainable transport options for travel to, from and
during work through the MYKI corporate
travel program and the Commuter Club.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• Adoption by Council of an Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) local
planning policy requiring developers to include ESD considerations within their planning
applications. The policy is a proposed amendment to the Stonnington Planning Scheme
and has been endorsed by a Panel and Ministerial Advisory Committee. It is currently
awaiting final endorsement by the Minister for Planning.
• Delivered energy efficiency workshops to residents and schools (please see
Environmental Education section).
PERFORMANCE
The following provides an overview of changesto Council’s consumption of electricity, gas and
fuel achieved through implementing the actions for 2013/14.
Electricity
Council’s electricity is consumed by its buildings and streetlights which generate the largest
proportion of Council’s corporate greenhouse gas emissions.
In tracking Council’s electricity use at its buildings and facilities, it is evident that ongoing
upgrades and additional use associated with the provision of improved services to the community
have resulted in an increase in energy consumption since 2005/06.
An example demonstrating this in the graph below shows an increase from 2010/11 to 2011/12
which correlates with the reopening of the Harold Holt Swim Centre after its partial closure in the
second half of 2010/11.
Over the past two years, Council has invested significant funds through its Energy Efficiency
Implementation Program, spending $500,000 per annum to retrofit buildings with measures to
reduce energy consumption.
Since the initiation of the Program in 2011/12, there has been an overall decrease in
electricity use at Council’s buildings and facilities.
Use of electricity for streetlighting has also been decreased during this period. This has
been achieved through the replacement of 1,350 streetlights to energy efficient light bulbs
since 2011.
Together, the reduction in energy consumption across Council’s buildings and streetlighting is
contributing to the achievement of Council’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions target for
2015 (please see graph on page 14).
Gas
Council’s gas is completely consumed by its buildings.
The graph below demonstrates that since the reopening of Harold Holt Swim Centre in November
2010, gas use has increased gradually each year. To address this increase a number of initiatives
are being implemented by Council including the conversion of the hot water boilers at the Harold
Holt Swim Centre to energy efficient units.
Fuel
The City of Stonnington’s vehicle and machinery fleet is instrumental in providing a variety of
services across Council, from street sweeping through to kerbside collection of household waste.
In 2011/12, Council’s light fleet vehicle purchasing protocols were modified to prioritise the
purchase of
low / alternative fuel consumption vehicles (such as diesel and LPG) where possible. It is evident
from the below graph that the implementation of this new protocol had a direct impact on fuel
consumption, with an observed decrease of around 10% from 2011/12 onwards.
This year, an Ecodriver Program was introduced to train fleet drivers to modify their driving
behaviour to improve fuel efficiency and reduce fuel expenditure and associated greenhouse gas
emissions.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The impact of Council’s electricity, gas and fuel consumption is the emission of greenhouse gases.
There are two approaches to achieving Council’s objective of reducing its greenhouse gas
emissions: through purchasing green energy or greenhouse gas emission offsets through generic
schemes, or through funding Stonnington based initiatives that aim to increase the efficiency and
environmental sustainability of Council’s buildings and infrastructure.
Prior to 2011, the majority of Council’s greenhouse gas reduction initiatives were achieved through
the offset purchase approach. This has changed to reflecta priority of investing in permanent
energy reduction initiatives within the City of Stonnington which has the added benefit of improving
the environmental performance and sustainability of Council’s assets and, consequently, reducing
operational costs.
The pie chart below shows the composition of Council’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2013/14.
The highest contributors to Council’s greenhouse gas emissions are generated through the use of
electricity for Council’s buildings and facilities and for streetlighting.
The chart of the composition of Council’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2013/14 shows;
• Council’s buildings and facilities contribute 63% of corporate emissions (gas and electricity
consumption).
• Another 28% is made up of electricity consumption from streetlighting.
• Overall, 77% of emissions are generated through Council’s electricity consumption (from
buildings and streetlighting).
Analysis of Council’s greenhouse gas emissions generated by Council over recent years shows
that:
• Greenhouse gas emissions are on a decreasing trend towards Council’s 2015 target with an
overall reduction of 2,256 tonnes since 2005/06.
• The decrease in emissions can be largely attributed to the reduction in electricity use across
Council’s buildings and streetlighting as a result of ongoing investment in energy efficiency
infrastructure upgrades.
• Greenhouse gas emissions associated with Council’s fleet have also decreased by 144 tonnes
with a reduction in overall fuel consumption achieved since 2011/12 when changes to Council’s
vehicle purchasing protocol were introduced.
• The accomplishment of Council’s 2015 emissions reduction target will require a further saving
of 1,140 tonnes which is achievable under the current retrofit program.
FOCUS FOR 2014/15
Council’s ongoing investment in its Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan is resulting
in a reduction in corporate greenhouse gas emissions towards Council’s emissions
reduction target. This is despite the ongoing challenge of balancing new development and
improvements to infrastructure to support community needs, while still reducing overall
energy consumption and the generation of greenhouse gas emissions of these assets.
Over the coming year, the focus will be on the following actions to further reduce corporate
emissions and support improved household energy efficiency:
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• To complete a detailed facilities audit of Council’s top ten energy consuming sites
to identify opportunities for improvements and upgrades for reduction in electricity and
gas use.
• To ensure Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) standards are incorporated into all
new and upgraded Council buildings and facilities to meet a best practice standard.
• To develop criteria for environmental performance to be included in contract specifications
for the design of new and upgraded Council buildings and facilities.
• To identify opportunities for localised energy generation on Council property (such as
solar).
• Continued implementation of Council’s Energy Efficiency Implementation Program.
• To implement a ‘Switch Off’ campaign through the staff Green Team to reduce energy use
at Council facilities (please see Environmental Commitment and Reporting section).
• To continue the upgrade of street lighting to more energy efficient fittings and explore the
opportunity for future upgrades using
LED technology.
• To continue to purchase energy efficient fleet vehicles and implement an ongoing program
of driver training.
• To complete a program for management of pool water at the Harold Holt and Prahran
Aquatic swim centres using turbidity controllers to reduce the frequency of backwashing.
• Continue to encourage staff to utilise sustainable transport options for travel to,
from and during work.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• To apply the Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) local planning policy
requiring developers to include ESD considerations within their planning applications.
• To support households to improve their energy efficiency through a free energy
service delivered as part of Council’s Sustainability Outreach Program. The
service will include an energy efficiency and renewable energy advice hotline
and a limited number of free in-home energy assessments.
3.
INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT
Water availability and use has been a prominent issue for Victorians since the late 1990’s, caused
by a long period of drought which impacted on all households and businesses across the State.
This experience forced a review of water management practices (and the introduction of severe
water restrictions) which led to innovative methods for collecting and storing water, and also
facilitated the development of products to minimise water use.
While water restrictions have relaxed since late 2010 with the easing of the drought and greater
availability of water, there remains a strong imperative for Council and the community to continue
to conserve water.
Through the Sustainable Environment Strategy 2013–2017, Council has adopted an ‘integrated
water management’ approach. This recognises that the supply, storage, use and reuse of water is
an interrelated process and is best regarded as a whole system in order to have the greatest
effect.
As part of this integrated approach, Council will continue its water conservation and water quality
improvement measures – this is particularly important as demand for services increases to meet
the needs of a growing community and the cost of water is expected to increase significantly.
These will focus on the main contributors to water use, being:
• Civic buildings;
• Aquatic centres / swimming pools;
• Sports facility irrigation (playing fields, tennis courts, and the Malvern Valley Golf Course);
• Irrigation of public gardens and open spaces including roundabouts, nature strips and other
lawned areas;
• Street sweeping; and
• Truck wash down associated with waste collection.
COUNCIL’S GOALS FOR INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT
• To implement measures to maintain corporate potable water consumption at reduced levels.
• Improve water management practices and stormwater quality through an integrated water
management model to reduce potable water use and enhance the quality of water in creeks and
waterways.
OBJECTIVES
• To maintain potable water consumption at 60% below 2000/01 (pre-drought) levels.
• To determine the most effective Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) treatment systems to
implement across the municipality to reduce potable water consumption and improve
stormwater quality.
ACTIONS ACHIEVED IN 2013/14
The following actions for reducing water use and improving water quality were achieved in
2013/14:
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• Installation of a centralised irrigation management system to assist in the monitoring of
water supply to Council’s sport fields, parks and gardens.
• Installation of bio retention systems along the Yarra River to treat stormwater to best
practice standards prior to it entering the Yarra River.
• Converted Basil Reserve to drought tolerant sports turf and installed sub surface
irrigation to continue to reduce Council’s potable water consumption.
• Continued investment in water efficiency measures and increased water substitution
with alternative supplies at Council sites (including rainwater, stormwater, recycled
water and groundwater).
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• Adoption by Council of an Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) local
planning policy requiring developers to include ESD considerations within their planning
applications.
• The incorporation of the Water Sensitive Urban Design Policy into the Stonnington
Planning Scheme to improve the City’s water quality by requiring building developers to
implement measures to treat stormwater onsite.
• Implemented water sensitive urban design projects directly, and with partners such as
developers and other land owners.
• Delivered water education sessions to schools (please see Environmental Education
section).
• Continued to implement WSUD installation as part of road, urban space and park
improvement projects.
PERFORMANCE
Water Conservation
Over the past decade Council has made great progress reducing its corporate potable water
consumption to less than 60% below 2000–01 levels. In recent years however, Council’s water
consumption has begun torise due in part to the lifting of water restrictions and increase in
community expectations about the irrigation of sports ovals and other open space / parkland
areas.
Increased water use in the 2012/13 year can also be attributed to a burst water main at the
Phoenix Park Community Centre in 2012.
It should be noted that water consumption data was not yet available for the 2013/14 year at the
time of analysis and reporting, therefore 2012/13 is the most recent year analysed.
The maintenance of Council’s parks, ovals and reserves currently contribute to over half (56%) of
Council’s overall potable water consumption. Sir Zelman Cowen Park, Central Park and Como
Park are among the top water consuming sites, contributing to nearly a quarter (22%) of Council’s
total consumption.
Council’s aquatic centres are also among the top water use sites, with the Harold Holt Swim
Centre and Prahran Aquatic Centre currently contributing 18% of Council’s potable water
consumption (12% and 6% respectively).
Water Quality
In March 2014, the Water Sensitive Urban Design Policy was incorporated into the Stonnington
Planning Scheme to require building developers to consider a site’s permeability and implement
measures to reduce and/or reuse storm water runoff. The initiative was the culmination of six
years’ work by four Councils from the Inner Melbourne Action Plan (IMAP) – the Cities of
Stonnington, Port Phillip, Melbourne and Yarra. Measures to be implemented by developers range
from increasing garden bed areas or using rain gardens, to conserving and reusing water onsite
through rainwater tanks and grey water systems. These measures will reintegrate urban water into
the landscape; reduce the pressures on storm water infrastructure, while ultimately reducing the
impact of polluting stormwater on bays and catchments.
FOCUS FOR 2014/15
Over the coming year, the focus will be on the following actions for better integrating the
management of water across the City:
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• To ensure Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) standards are incorporated into all
new and upgraded Council buildings and facilities to meet a best practice standard.
• To undertake a detailed assessment of water use across Council’s assets to inform a
series of water conservation planning workshops.
• To investigate the effectiveness of Council’s current stormwater treatment assets
(eg. rain gardens and wetlands) to identify opportunities for future investment.
• Complete installation of the centralised irrigation control system.
• To maintain the program of conversion of sports grounds to warm season grasses.
• To undertake individual site irrigation assessments and undertake modification of
systems in accordance with the assessments to ensure efficient irrigation systems at
sporting fields, parks and gardens.
• To continue planting indigenous and drought tolerant exotic plant species in
gardens and streetscapes throughout the City.
• To continue the installation of water saving fittings and fixtures across offices,
community centres and sports pavilions.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• To apply the ESD local planning policy requiring developers to include ESD
considerations within their planning applications.
• To implement the City of Stonnington Water Sensitive Urban Design Planning Scheme
Amendment requiring building developers to treat stormwater onsite to best practice
standards.
• Continue to deliver water conservation information sessions to residents and schools.
4.
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND MINIMISATION
Managing the volume of waste generated throughout the community and its impact on the
environment is a major challenge.
Waste sent to landfill has both environmental and financial implications; waste going to landfill
increases the release of harmful greenhouse gases into the environment; and the cost of waste
disposal to landfill is increasing significantly due to rising State Government levies and the
introduction of the carbon tax.
Council is responsible for the collection, transport and disposal of municipal waste within the City.
As part of this service, Council provides weekly garbage collection, fortnightly recycling, user pays
green waste collection (currently used by 26% of residents) and a biannual hard waste and
bundled green waste collection. Council also provides opportunities for residents to recycle niche
products such as e-waste (electronic), household chemicals, batteries and mobile phones.
Council also plays an important role in delivering waste education to the community. Through a
range of programs, Council encourages and supports the community to: reduce the amount of
waste generated; reuse waste products and materials; recycle waste products at home (for
example composting); and separate waste to enable recycling of materials to make new products
(for example cardboard, paper, glass, plastics, green waste).
In managing waste, Council’s focus is on minimisingthe amount of rubbish that is generated in the
first instance. This preventative approach is also a key goal of the new Victorian Waste and
Resource Recovery Policy and is consistent with the widely accepted waste management
hierarchy of Avoid, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
COUNCIL’S GOALS FOR MINIMISING WASTE AND MAXIMISING RESOURCE
RECOVERY
• To minimise waste generated by Council and the community.
• To inform and support the community and staff to implement correct waste disposal practices.
• To continue to review Council’s waste management services for relevance to the changing
needs of the community, and implement improvements as identified.
• Maximise the recovery of reusable resources out of the waste stream.
OBJECTIVES
• To educate and support Council, households and the broader community (including businesses
and schools) in measures to minimise waste generation.
• To reduce the contamination rate of kerbside recyclables to less than 10%.
• To maintain a 3% increase in participation in the green waste service each year.
• To deliver best practice waste management services which optimise positive environmental
outcomes.
• To educate the Stonnington community on improved waste management practices at home.
• Provide opportunities for the community to manage their own food waste onsite for reuse as a
resource.
• Increase community recycling opportunities in the public realm.
ACTIONS ACHIEVED IN 2013/14
The following actions for better managing and reducing waste generated by Council and
the community were achieved in 2013/14:
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• The introduction of improved waste and recycling facilities in Council offices to improve
staff waste disposal practices and increase Council’s diversion of recycling and food
waste from landfill (please see Performance section).
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• Establishment of nine recycling drop-off points at Council locations for the collection of
niche recyclables through Council’s Sustainability Outreach Program. Recyclable items
include used batteries, mobile phones and chargers, floppy disks, cassette tapes, VHS,
DVDs ,CDs and cases.
• Expanded the capture of recyclables in the Hard Waste collections to include e-waste
collection.
• Secured funding for the installation of Public Place Recycling (PPR) bins in sports
pavilions and public places.
• Developed strategies to increase residents’ participation in the Kerbside Green Waste
Service.
• Provided an e-waste recycling drop off for residents at the Stonnington Depot and
promoted ongoing e-waste recycling services.
• Implemented a waste education program with Council’s current Kerbside Recycling
Contractor.
• Delivered waste education sessions to kindergartens, schools and residents (Please see
Environmental Education section).
• Encouraged and supported business and community participation in Clean Up Australia
Day activities.
• Introduced the compost revolution program.
PERFORMANCE
Council and the community’s performance in waste management has achieved excellent results
over recent years.
• The total amount of municipal waste to landfill has decreased by 259 tonnes since 2009/10,
representing an 8% reduction in average waste generation per household.
• The proportion of waste diverted to recycling has also decreased during this period due to fewer
recyclable items entering the waste stream. This may in part reflect the observed shift from
printed newspapers and magazines to online media.
• Overall, the total amount of municipal waste generated has decreased by 6% since 2009/10.
This is despite growth in the Stonnington population during this period.
Municipal Kerbside Audit Results
An audit of kerbside waste is undertaken each yearin February to inform Council of residents’
waste disposal practices.
The 2014 audit showed an improvement in resident recycling practices, with a lower proportion of
recyclable items in the waste stream (14% compared to 17% in 2013). Paper, glass and
magazines were the most common recyclable items/resources lost in the waste stream.
Food based materials remain the predominant component of the waste stream that could be
recovered (representing over half of the sample by weight). In addition to the negative
environmental impacts of organic matter going to landfill, there are also significant associated cost
implications.
To increase the diversion of food waste from landfill, Council has introduced a new program to
support residents to home compost their food waste. The Compost Revolution initiative, delivered
through Council’s Sustainability Outreach Program, offers discounted compost bins or worm farms
for participants and includes an online, step by stepguide. Currently 59 households are
participating in the program.
Expanded e-waste (electronic) collection
To maximise the recovery of usable electronic items such as computers and mobile phones,
Council has increased the opportunities available for residents to recycle e-waste and niche
recyclables. This includes:
• A free television and computer recycling service at Council’s Waste Transfer Station. During the
six month trial period from January to June 2014, over 3,500 televisions and 2,215 computers
were diverted for recycling.
• The establishment of nine new recycling drop-off points at Council’s libraries, aquatic centres,
town halls and Waste Transfer Station as part of Council’s Sustainability Outreach Program.
Over the three month trial, a total of 1528kg (1.5 tonnes) of materials have been diverted for
recycling. This includes 478 kg of batteries, 268kg of CDs, 236kg of videos and 43kg of ewaste.
• The inclusion of e-waste collection as part of Council’s hard rubbish service. This was trialled
in the spring collection where 66 tonnes of e-waste was collected and diverted from landfill.
Internal Waste Management Improvements
Council’s staff Green Team identified opportunities to increase Council’s diversion of waste from
landfill through improved waste and recycling facilities for staff.
An audit of Council’s office and kitchen bins showed 42% (by weight) of current waste items were
potentially recyclable, highlighting a key opportunity for increasing the percentage of waste
diverted to recycling. Improving the quality of the recycling could also be achieved by minimising
contamination with non recyclable items (currently comprising 22%).
Audit results showed a large proportion of compostable food waste was currently going to landfill.
Again this was identified as an opportunity for improving Council’s diversion of waste.
To support improved waste disposal practices, the Green Team established a new waste
management system across Council. This included:
• New centralised waste and recycling bins;
• The removal of staff under desk rubbish bins and introduction of mini desk eco bins;
• Clearer signage above bins and the development of an online recycling guide;
• Training for cleaning staff; and
• Kitchen composting trials.
An audit undertaken following the introduction of the new waste management system showed
a great improvement:
• A significant increase in the percentage of waste diverted to recycling, with a 50% reduction in
proportion of recyclable items in the waste stream.
• Improved quality of recycling with a 7% reduction in contamination from non recyclable items
(from 22% to 17%).
Worm farms (and associated kitchen collectors) were also introduced at Council’s town halls and
depot to assist with diverting food waste. This has proved highly successful with audit results
showing that the volume of food waste currently being generated exceeds their capacity.
Through the delivery of the 2014/15 Action Plan, the Green Team aims to trial an advanced
composting system with the capacity to process larger volumes of food waste on site. Encouraging
staff to generate less food waste in the first place will also be a focus for the year.
FOCUS FOR 2014/15
Over the coming year, the focus will be on the following actions for continuing to effectively
manage and reduce municipal waste.
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• To continue to support staff to divert recycling and compostable food waste from landfill
through Green Team initiatives.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• To increase the number of properties involved in Council’s Garden Waste Collection
Service.
• To improve recycling practices in public places and sports pavilions, with the installation
of 16 Public Place Recycling (PPR) bins at Hawksburn Village and East Malvern Terminus
Village and identify other opportune locations.
• To increase the number of households composting food and garden waste on site.
• To investigate innovative solutions to encourage residents of multi-unit developments to
recycle food waste on site.
• To provide consistent and clear information to inform people of what is accepted in
Council’s Kerbside Recycling bins and support this with ongoing educational
campaigns.
• To develop and provide an online guide to inform residents of correct disposal
optionsfor common household products.
• To participate in the 2014 Garage Sale Trail, giving Stonnington residents the opportunity
to host a garage sale, sell their unwanted items and reduce waste going to landfill.
• To continue to advocate to the State and Federal Government for further recycling
opportunities for Stonnington residents through the National Product Stewardship
Legislation.
5.
SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING AND PRODUCT
USE
Council consumes large quantities of goods and materials. These products can have varying
degrees of impact on the environment, depending on how and where they are made. Similarly,
Council can positively influence the environment through selecting products and materials that are
manufactured locally and are made from environmentally sustainable products / recycled goods.
Purchasing sustainable products and services is a key activity through which Council can reduce
its impact on the environment and implement its commitment to environmental sustainability.
Sustainable purchasing is based on the premise that every purchase impacts on the environment
in some way. Environmentally preferable products are those that are less damaging to human
health and the environment than comparable options (such as Green products). Council adopted
its Sustainable Procurement Policy in 2003, and since this time the proportion of sustainable
purchases made by the organisation has increased.
COUNCIL’S GOALS FOR SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING
• To reduce Council’s overall use of materials and products through implementing more efficient
practices.
• To increase Council’s use of sustainable product options.
• To support the community to access local produce.
OBJECTIVES
• To increase the proportion of sustainable products and materials used, where suitable
alternatives are available and it is feasible to do so.
• Work with staff to establish practices that result in more efficient use of materials and products
with the aim of reducing Council’s overall use.
• To reduce the average number of reams of paper used per staff member.
• To include environmental specifications in major contracts for services and the purchase of high
use corporate products.
• To integrate environmental criteria in tender evaluations.
• To improve community access to locally grown produce.
ACTIONS ACHIEVED IN 2013/14
The following actions for increasing sustainable purchasing and product use were
achieved in 2013/14:
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• Development of a Green Stationery Guide for staff which lists over 500 environmentally
friendly alternatives for commonly used stationery items
(please see Performance section).
• Introduction of new energy efficient photocopiers across the organisation
which feature a swipe/release system to reduce staff paper use.
• Updated Council’s procurement policy to ensure environmental criteria are
assessed as part of Council’s tender evaluation process.
• Prepared environmental specifications for contracts up for review (i.e. Council’s printing
services contract) requiring submissions to address environmental assessment criteria.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• Supported the establishment of a community garden in association with
the Armadale Baptist Church to increase community access to locally grown
food (as part of Council’s Sustainability Outreach Program).
• Delivered community information sessions and workshops to encourage
and support residents to grow their own food (please see Environmental Education
section).
PERFORMANCE
Green Stationery Guide
To increase Council’s use of sustainable products, the staff Green Team developed a Green
Stationery Guide which lists over 500 environmentally friendly alternatives for commonly used
stationery items (including pens, binders, post-its, notebooks etc). Item details are also listed in an
associated Green Catalogue within Council’s finance system to create a streamlined process for
staff to purchase products.
FOCUS FOR 2014/15
Over the coming year, the focus will be on the following actions for further increasing
sustainable product use.
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• To develop service-specific environmental specifications for inclusion in major service
and infrastructure contracts.
• To continue to develop appropriate environmental criteria for service contracts
up for review.
• To develop and implement further staff education initiatives focused on building
knowledge, understanding and commitment to sustainable purchasing.
• To establish reporting systems for measuring staff paper use and green stationery
purchases.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• To continue working with the Armadale Baptist Church to assist them in establishing a
community garden to increase community access to locally grown produce.
• To continue to provide workshops and information session to encourage and support
residents to grow their own food.
6.
BIODIVERSITY
The vast majority of land in Stonnington has been developed for housing, business, transport and
public open space. This long term, wide scale development has depleted the natural environment
and resulted in a significant loss of indigenous vegetation. There are, however, still some
important areas of native flora and fauna within the city.
Biodiversity relates to the mix of native plants and animals that call Stonnington home – as such,
creating a biologically diverse area requires a quality natural environment. A measure of a healthy
natural environment is its degree of biodiversity. To optimise biodiversity, it is ideal for natural
areas to be enlarged through the creation of corridors to facilitate the movement of animal and
birdlife within and through the area.
The benefits of biodiversity for the community are numerous; not only does a high level of
biodiversity result in a healthy and attractive physical environment, but it can facilitate educational
opportunities, recreational activities, and add to the colour and amenity of a community.
The Yarra River and associated tributary, Gardiners Creek, form the basis of the main flora and
fauna corridor in Stonnington. The water quality of these systems has significantly improved over
recent decades despite continued urbanisation, population growth and intensification of agriculture
in these waterways’ upper reaches.
As the City of Stonnington will continue to be highly developed, protecting and enhancing existing
biodiversity areas is critical. Opportunities for building upon and expanding these areas shouldalso
be pursued.
Council is concentrating its efforts on enhancing areas where some remnant habitat already exists
and Council has management control over the land.
Further development of land within the City of Stonnington, and an intensification of housing will
place increasing pressure on existing vegetation throughout the community. Encouraging and
facilitating good management of vegetation on private land, together with significant efforts to
boost ecological values on public land are high priorities.
COUNCIL’S GOALS FOR BIODIVERSITY
• To protect and enhance biodiversity.
OBJECTIVES
• To continue to invest in a number of key biodiversity sites to achieve tangible outcomes for
improved biodiversity.
• To contribute to the restoration of natural values along the southern banks of the Yarra River
through indigenous revegetation, weed control, habitat structure improvements and enhancing
water quality.
• To develop a mechanism to objectively measure, and track over time, changes in biodiversity
values to enable a cost-benefit assessment of investments at key biodiversity sites.
• To positively influence the whole treed environment in the City, including public and private sites
(such as parks, roads, houses).
ACTIONS ACHIEVED IN 2013/14
The following actions for enhancing local biodiversity were achieved in 2013/14:
• Implemented Stage Two of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project (opposite
Herring Island) including improved access pathways, planting of indigenous vegetation
and the development of a series of bio-retention ponds with suspended pedestrian
walkways.
• Continued to invest in biodiversity and habitat management across Stonnington’s key
biodiversity sites. Works included indigenous revegetation, weed control, erosion
control and habitat structure improvements.
• Identified feasible opportunities to create habitat corridors throughout the municipality,
particularly corridors that link larger parks, gardens and reserves containing habitat
values.
• Delivered information education sessions and planting days at key biodiversity
enhancement sites with schools (please see Environmental Education section).
• Ensured that through Council’s management of street trees and parks and gardens, tree
health and attributes that support fauna (such as hollows) were preserved and enhanced.
PERFORMANCE
Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project
The Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project aims to increase habitat connectivity, improve water
quality and provide recreational and educational opportunities for the community to interact with
Melbourne’s landmark river. To date, Council has invested more than $2 million into the project to
achieve these outcomes.
Stage Two works, completed in June 2014, combined with Stage One outcomes have provided:
• Indigenous riparian revegetation – planting of over 49,000 plants comprising 73 different
species
• Construction of an ephemeral wetland system, bio-retention garden and installation of a gross
pollutant trap for stormwater treatment
• Construction of a 3m wide pedestrian boardwalk comprised of recycled materials
• Construction of two river viewing platforms
• Widening and upgrade of bicycle path and installation of solar bike path markers
• Increased recreational spaces for improved interaction with the Yarra River.
As part of the project, Council has planted an additional 4,000 indigenous plants at Grange Road,
Toorak in order to extend indigenous riparian revegetation. An additional 4,500 were also planted
along a 300m section at Punt Road, Toorak.
Council has also planted 15,000 indigenous plants from 50 different species across Stonnington
parks and reserves to improve biodiversity, habitat structure and green space.
School Tree Planting
As part of the popular annual school tree planting event, students planted 3,000 indigenous plants
at the Urban Forest in East Malvern and 5000 indigenous plants at the Glen Iris Wetlands,
Muswell Bend Park in Glen Iris.
FOCUS FOR 2014/15
Over the coming year, the focus will be onthe following actions for further enhancing
local biodiversity.
• Implementation of Stage Three of the Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project which
will further increase the amenity of the Yarra River with improved shared pathways,
seating and viewing opportunities as well as increased biodiversity through weed control
and indigenous revegetation.
• To undertake Stage Three using the Federal Government’s Green Army which provides
skills development and training opportunities
for young people in environmental and conservation fields.
• To develop a mechanism to objectively measure, and track over time, changes in
biodiversity at Council’s priority sites to enable a cost-benefit assessment of
investments in biodiversity enhancement initiatives.
• To continue to implement works to restore and maintain key biodiversity sites across
Stonnington.
• To work collaboratively with Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) Councils to
develop a framework for monitoring biodiversity and habitat health. The framework will
assist Councils to adapt their natural resource management activities to protect and
enhance local biodiversity in the context of a changing climate.
• Work towards developing a Planning Scheme Amendment to require residential housing
developments to use a minimum of 50% native plants in landscaping to generate
biodiversity and water conservation benefits.
• To facilitate a Community Tree Planting Event to be held in conjunction with the National
Tree Planting Day, providing residents with a hands-on opportunity to make a difference
to the biodiversity of the local area.
7.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Environmental education is crucial to achieving the behaviour change required to become a more
sustainable and environmentally responsible community. Through education, individuals and
organisations can gain the knowledge to develop the skills and values to respond to complex
environmental issues.
Council has an active role in education as a primary means for equipping the community with
the information and skills to enable them to effect environmental change. This year, Council has
extended its suite of education programs to include a Sustainability Outreach Program which
provides educational opportunities across a range of sustainability activities including home
composting, household energy efficiency, e-waste recycling and community gardening.
Council’s ongoing calendar of events and Stonnington Green Schools Network Program continue
to provide opportunities for residents and schools to learn more about the environment and how
they can contribute to a more sustainable community. The newly developed TH King Pavilion and
Stonnington Environmental Education and Design (SEED) Centre will also provide a venue for
hosting these ongoing residential and school programs and an opportunityto highlight the
biodiversity of the local area and Environmental Sustainable Design (ESD) features
of the centre.
COUNCIL’S GOALS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
• To provide effective, targeted environmental education initiatives to encourage residents,
schools, businesses, community groups and Council staff to adopt sustainable practices.
OBJECTIVES
• To engage the wider community to adopt sustainable practices, through the delivery of a variety
of environmental education initiatives (including workshops, seminars and online resources).
• To provide ongoing support, education and information to encourage staff to implement
sustainable practices in their daily work functions.
• To continue to deliver the Stonnington Green Schools Network Program to staff and students.
• To assess the effectiveness of Council’s Environmental Education programs in
influencing long term behavioural change.
ACTIONS ACHIEVED IN 2013/14
The following environmental education activities for residents and staff were achieved in 2013/14:
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• Increased staff knowledge and awareness of Council’s environmental impact through the delivery
of staff Green Team initiatives (please see Commitment and Reporting section).
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• Developed and delivered the Sustainability Outreach Program, providing a range of opportunities
for residents to learn about and implement sustainable practices including home composting,
household energy efficiency, community gardening and e-waste recycling.
• Delivered a series of environmental information sessions and workshops for residents as part of a
Calendar of Environmental Events.
• Developed educational spaces and interpretive signage at the TH King Pavilion
and Stonnington Environmental Education and Design (SEED) Centre for use as a
venue for ongoing residential and school environmental programs.
• Delivered the 2014 Stonnington Green Schools Network program.
• Evaluated Green Schools program effectiveness through participant feedback.
• Developed new online and printed educational resources for residents including recycling posters
for apartments and multi-unit developments.
• Provided staff education opportunities through the delivery of office-based Green Team initiatives.
PERFORMANCE
Environmental Education for residents
Council’s ongoing Calendar of Environmental Events provides a series of activities to promote
environmental awareness to residents. 15 events were delivered during 2013/14, with an average
of 20 to 30 participants per session.
Activities included:
• Home Harvest workshops
• Biodiversity Tour of Glen Iris Wetlands
• Cut Your Energy Bills – Energy Efficiency
• Backyard Bee Keeping
• Keeping Chickens in Stonnington (new)
• Follow Your Recyclables tours
• Worm Farming and Composting
“For an inspiring learning experience, the Waste and Recyclables Tour
was one of the best. Being able to watch the environmental benefit of
how the by-products of our waste – the liquids and gases, as well as the
recycled plastics – are treated and converted was a revelation. Having
the processes so well explained by the on-site and Council officers was
an education. A credit to all.”
– Stonnington residents Nicholas and Anita
Council’s popular Spring into Gardening event this year showcased a wide range of sustainability
features including:
• A bicycle skills workshop
• Presentations on the main stage covering: Keeping Chickens, Backyard Beekeeping,
Indigenous Plants and Sustainable Landscaping
• “Ask an expert” guest speakers housed at the Sustainable Environmental Unit stall to provide
advice on worm farming and composting, sustainable gardening and waste
• Stalls featuring an electric car and glass observation bee hive
Environmental Education in Schools and Early Learning Centres
Council’s annual Stonnington Green Schools Network Program supports Stonnington schools
and Early Learning Centres in the delivery of environmental initiatives.
This year a series of improvements were made to the Schools’ Program including:
• Delivery of a greater range of sessions including a Close the Loop Tour and Indigenous Cultural
sessions.
• Alignment with the AusVELs curriculum standard to assist schools with planning student
learning programs and assessing student progress.
• A Waste Education Kit and Professional Development workshop for Early Learning Centres to
provide advice on waste minimisation strategies. Nine ELCs attended the workshop.
The following information sessions and workshops were conducted as part of the 2014 program:
Waste and Recycling Education
• 15 primary school waste education sessions including assembly presentations, worm and
compost sessions and Nude Food sessions.
• Six kindergarten sessions including Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, worm farming and litter.
• One waste presentation at a school assembly for ‘Get Rid Of Rubbish Day’.
Water Education
• Three in school sessions on Water Smart Cities, Water Cycle Puzzle and Land Use in a
Catchment.
Biodiversity Education
• 14 schools participated in the National Tree Planting Day which includes a biodiversity tour on
the history of the area and local flora and fauna.
• One school ground planting activity and in school session on local flora and fauna.
• One session at Glen Iris Wetlands on local flora and fauna.
Energy Education
• One multimedia energy session on Council’s energy initiatives.
Sustainability Leadership Training
- Four schools participated in a Green Team Training Day ‘Do more with LESS’
Environmental Education for staff
Six staff induction sessions were attended where information was provided on Council’s
environmental education programs and sustainability initiatives.
In May 2014, over 300 staff participated in the Green Team’s ‘Shrink Your Waste’ campaign aimed
at improving staff recycling rates. Events and awareness campaigns were also held throughout the
year to raise staff awareness and commitment to sustainability.
FOCUS FOR 2014/15
Over the coming year, the focus will be on the following actions to provide environmental
educationboth internally and to the community.
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
• To continue to educate staff around sustainable office practices through Green Team
initiatives.
• To investigate further opportunities to incorporate sustainability topics into existing staff
education, development and training.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIONS:
• To continue to deliver outreach programs to engage and equip the Stonnington
community to adopt sustainable practices, including initiatives to engage local
businesses to make long term sustainable improvements.
• To continue to deliver the annual Calendar of Environmental Events on a range of
sustainability topicsof interest to residents. New events will include a Community
Planting Day on National Tree Day, ‘DeClutter your Home’ and ‘Harvest and Cook’
Workshop.
• To develop and deliver the 2015 Stonnington Green Schools Network program.
• To utilise the newly completed TH King SEED centre as a venue for hosting residential
and school environmental programs.
• To develop interpretive signage at the Glen Iris Wetlands to engage the community on
local flora and fauna and best practice stormwater management and treatment.
• To develop additional online resources for residents and an update of Council’s website.
• To continue to evaluate resident and school feedback to inform future programs.